Lafourche Parish Council rejects new subdivision rules

Published: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 11:23 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 11:23 a.m.

An effort to improve drainage in future Lafourche Parish subdivisions stalled Tuesday night as five proposed changes to subdivision rules failed or were pulled.

Councilman Jerry Lafont was the most vocal opponent of the changes, which he said treated developers and contractors unfairly.

“We're running people out of the parish; we're running developers out of the parish,” Lafont said.

Parish President Charlotte Randolph said she sympathizes with developers' need, but empathizes with residents.

“We constantly hear from people who have flooding problems, who have drainage problems,” she said.

The council voted down two ordinances: one dealing with maintenance and another that would change stormwater-removal designs.

Lafourche currently requires contractors to maintain roads and drainage for two years following completion. The parish assumes control after that.

The change would have required contractors to maintain roads for five years. It failed in a unanimous vote.

Councilman Aaron Caillouet said he supports the plan, but local developers expressed cost concerns.

“It'll make construction much more expensive in Lafourche as opposed to other parishes,” he said.

Houma attorney Craig Landry represents several developers in attendance at the meeting.

“The ability to bond out for five years is not possible in the current insurance market,” he said.

The other ordinance would have adopted the new Stormwater Design Manual, which requires new subdivisions be able to handle a 25-year storm, or one with rainfall so heavy it's statistically likely to happen once every 25 years.

It failed in a 4-4 vote. Jerry Jones was not at the meeting because he was out of town.

Here's how the vote went:

For: Mike Delatte, Phillip Gouaux, John Arnold, Joe Fertitta.

Against: Daniel Lorraine, Jerry Lafont, Lindel Toups, Aaron Couillet.

Randolph said she has confidence in the parish's master drainage plan and the ordinance, but Lafont had issues with several aspects.

Three other amended ordinances related to ditches, drainage and storm sewers and erosion and sediment control were pulled so changes could be made to mesh with the new design manual.

Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 448-7635 or jacob.batte@dailycomet.com.

<p>An effort to improve drainage in future Lafourche Parish subdivisions stalled Tuesday night as five proposed changes to subdivision rules failed or were pulled. </p><p>Councilman Jerry Lafont was the most vocal opponent of the changes, which he said treated developers and contractors unfairly. </p><p>“We're running people out of the parish; we're running developers out of the parish,” Lafont said. </p><p>Parish President Charlotte Randolph said she sympathizes with developers' need, but empathizes with residents. </p><p>“We constantly hear from people who have flooding problems, who have drainage problems,” she said. </p><p>The council voted down two ordinances: one dealing with maintenance and another that would change stormwater-removal designs. </p><p>Lafourche currently requires contractors to maintain roads and drainage for two years following completion. The parish assumes control after that.</p><p>The change would have required contractors to maintain roads for five years. It failed in a unanimous vote.</p><p>Councilman Aaron Caillouet said he supports the plan, but local developers expressed cost concerns. </p><p>“It'll make construction much more expensive in Lafourche as opposed to other parishes,” he said. </p><p>Houma attorney Craig Landry represents several developers in attendance at the meeting.</p><p>“The ability to bond out for five years is not possible in the current insurance market,” he said. </p><p>The other ordinance would have adopted the new Stormwater Design Manual, which requires new subdivisions be able to handle a 25-year storm, or one with rainfall so heavy it's statistically likely to happen once every 25 years.</p><p>It failed in a 4-4 vote. Jerry Jones was not at the meeting because he was out of town.</p><p>Here's how the vote went:</p><p>For: Mike Delatte, Phillip Gouaux, John Arnold, Joe Fertitta.</p><p>Against: Daniel Lorraine, Jerry Lafont, Lindel Toups, Aaron Couillet.</p><p>Randolph said she has confidence in the parish's master drainage plan and the ordinance, but Lafont had issues with several aspects.</p><p>Three other amended ordinances related to ditches, drainage and storm sewers and erosion and sediment control were pulled so changes could be made to mesh with the new design manual.</p><p>Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 448-7635 or jacob.batte@dailycomet.com.</p>